HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – TMC3’s collaborative life sciences research campus is pairing two prevailing development concepts – mixed use and live-work-play – as its revised master plan for 37 acres within Texas Medical Center takes shape.
And the shape is DNA-inspired. The design is a nod to the innovations and discoveries for a healthier future to come from the research talent TMC3 hopes to attract and retain. Campus plans combine superb research facilities; a dynamic environment that incorporates housing, retail, hotel and meeting space; and high-end amenities to lure talent to interact beyond their labs.
Meanwhile, the iconic shape sets up an easily recognizable beacon to convey TMC3’s presence — and its mission, which is to be the third coast (the 3 in TMC3) for global health research, project leadership said in an early May announcement by TMC3 founding institutions. These include Texas Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The announcement covered revisions to the master plan, now more accessible, walkable and connected, and named the project’s architectural and development team: Elkus Manfredi Architects of Boston, Transwestern Development Co. and Vaughn Construction, both based in Houston.
Interaction inside, outside labs
As revised, the master plan calls for 1.5 million SF of collaborative research space — including 250,000 SF of shared core labs and designated facilities for partner institutions, a 410-room hotel with 50,000 SF of meeting space, retail, underground parking, and an elongated promenade of green spaces that cuts across – and links — the entire campus. The latter also connects to the core of TMC’s original footprint to the north, to future development by partner institutions pending to the south, and to the community in general.
“Science, technology, medicine, discovery and innovation are all about making connections, and we are building a space for institutions, industry and startups to interact,” said David Manfredi, CEO and founding principal of Elkus Manfredi Architects.
A previous design for campus featured a centralized facility – also double-helix DNA shaped – and capped with a single sky-high park.
TMC3, located on the south side of the Medical Center near South Braeswood and Old Spanish Trail, is expected to break ground by early 2020 and open in 2022.
Partner institutions have several related new or expansion projects pending on or near TMC3’s campus, the announcement indicated. Among them, Baylor College of Medicine’s expanded research and education facilities within the TMC3 campus; Texas A&M Health Science Center’s research building to be located on the north end of the campus, near the hotel; and research facilities by MD Anderson and UTHealth on the sound end of the campus and connected to UT Research Park. A skybridge will be built to connect the latter with TMC3.
A 2017 economic impact study by Silverlode Consulting estimates TMC3 will generate 26,000 jobs and drive $5.2 billion into the Houston economy.
